Comparing: T 55A vs. AMX 30 1er prototype

An upgraded version of the T-55 tank. The T 55A had a higher level of nuclear protection and no bow machinegun. From 1962 through 1970, about 1,800 of the T-55 and T 55A tanks were supplied to East Germany by the U.S.S.R.

Developed as part of a competitive search for a unified European tank. The vehicle turned out to have maneuverability, engine power, and effective anti-tank engagement distance superior to all other vehicles except the Leopard 1. The armor of the vehicle was quite thin, but it was decided that technological advances in anti-tank shells had essentially rendered armor obsolete: survivability would depend on mobility and firepower.